Jacki Cooper is now based in Sydney. She is available for gigs anywhere in Australia using local musicians.
Call Jacki for information - 0419 868 515.

Reviews

Redfern RSL
Tim Fisher - piano, Paul Derricott - drums, Karl Dunnicliff - bass, Jacki Cooper - leader and vocals

I did not know quite what to expect from this quartet as I had never heard them before. My concerns were soon laid to rest as they played standard afetr standard. In total, 17 popular standards including some blues, and yes, even some rock and roll in the last set. The vocals by Jacki were a joy to hear and the individual solos and improvisations by the band were just great. A very tight quartet with Jacki in complete control and something to suit everyone's taste.
For me, it was great to hear a young group of talented musicians pay respect to the Great American Songbook. As a testimony to their abilities, both Jacki and Tim have been invited to perform with the... Shanghai Symphony Big Band in Shanghai... in July 2007. To Jazz fans of all tastes, please support this new group whenever you get the chance. This may well be the beginning of a "new era" in jazz.

Reviewed by Lionel Ollis
For Jazz Action Society Newsletter, August 2007
(with corrections re China tour)

Love For Sale

Those guys are simply smokin´. This is jazz singer Jacki Cooper sending shivers down my spine. pianist Peter Zanker kind of reminds me of Herbie Hankock on those 63´- 67´ recordings with Miles davis and it simply does not get any better. Bass and drums very very tasty indeed. To make it simple-This group will swing you into bad health

azteka on 13/Jun/2003
MP3.com

Jacki Cooper Jazz Quartet are the best jazz act in South Australia. I have seen them perform live many times at jazz events and even front bars around Adelaide and they are fantastic. Jacki is such a dynamic and energetic performer and it's so great to now be able to buy CD's of their music. Backed by fabulous musicians, Jacki's strong, soulful voice gets everyone up dancing. But she can also sing a ballad with such emotion and gentleness you'd swear it was a completely different singer! Just listen to "I Watch You Sleep" on the new CD "Love For Sale" and compare it to something like "Well Alright" (can be downloaded from their website www.jackicooper.com)from "Jacki Cooper and Friends". This is one versatile performer. So take my advice - if you live in Adelaide...go and see them live! If not, then at least you can buy 2 great CD's.

Anonymous
MP3.com

Love For Sale - Jacki Cooper Jazz Quartet
with Special Guest, Peter Raidel

This album is dedicated to all the jazz aficionados out there. Love For Sale sees vocalist Jacki Cooper and her talented jazz musicians embark on a journey of standards and covers performed with the swankiness and grace associated with the genre.

This easy listening release compliments the origins of jazz with the sweet, dreamy vocals of Jacki above the slow burning music that sways behind her as the pertinent backdrop. The title track, a Cole Porter classic is executed brilliantly, while The Beatles' Can't Buy Me Love gets a Jacki Cooper revamp and the band shake it up with some immense sex appeal thanks to Peter Raidel's sax.

If there are any jazz fans looking for a piece to put on the CD player and drink a nice red wine while winding down from a busy day, then this is one for them.

Reviewed by Penni Pappas
for Rip It Up Magazine
Issue 718 March 13-19 2003

Love For Sale - Jacki Cooper Jazz Quartet
with Special Guest, Peter Raidel

Vocalist Jacki Cooper has spent the past few years developing her considerable vocal talents here in Adelaide in a variety of contexts, including working with big bands and her own Jazz quartet. Her recently released recording "Love For Sale" brings together the best of her experiences to produce a relaxed, yet swinging collection of standards with her regularly working quartet.

The quartet features Peter Zanker on piano, Craig Lauritsen, drums Shaun Duncan, bass and, of course, Jacki Cooper on vocals. Special guest saxophonist Peter Raidel, adds a much appreciated additional voice, to some tunes, which blends readily with the obvious empathy of Jacki and the members of the rhythm section.

The recording begins with a relaxed version of the Jobim bossa nova 'Chega de Suadade' (No More Blues). Peter Raidel joins the quartet for a solidly swinging version of the well known standard 'All Of Me'. The ballad introduction to 'Since I Fell For You' allows Jacki to get inside the lyrics and push it into a more bluesy feel. The Cole Porter classic, 'Love For Sale' is in safe hands in a modern, broken-up approach that emphasises the lyrical content. The up tempo swinging version of 'I Want To Be Happy' allows Peter Zanker to stretch out into an extended solo and contrasts with the loping, yet swinging feel of 'Unlucky For Some'. The group's sparse, haunting approach to 'You Don't Know What Love Is' prepares the listeners ear for the bluesy, funky approach to the Lennon-McCartney tune, 'Can't Buy Me Love'. Peter Raidel adds a fine solo to the bebop blues madness of the inspired Annie Ross vocalise lyrics to 'Twisted'. The original gentle ballad 'I Watch
You Sleep' brings the recording to a fitting conclusion.

This clearly recorded CD develops on the promise of Jacki's earlier recording to deliver a mature performance from all members of her regularly working local unit. The saxophone work of Peter Raidel is an added bonus, allowing the listener to hear one of Adelaide's too seldom recorded musicians in good company. Overall a very satisfying recording that rewards repeated listening. Available at all good CD stores or directly through Jacki Cooper and on-line from Jacki's web-site at www.jackicooper.com .

Reviewed by Greg Fisher
for "Jazz Views" http://surf.to/jazzviews
February 2003

Love For Sale - Jacki Cooper Jazz Quartet
with Special Guest, Peter Raidel

A popular band around Adelaide, The Jacki Cooper Jazz Quartet have produced a very professional second CD. Love For Sale features vocalist Jacki Cooper with her regular rhythm section of Peter Zanker, piano, Shaun Duncan, bass and Craig Lauritsen, drums. Saxophonist Peter Raidel guests on four tracks.
The Jobim Latin standard Chega de Suadade opens the CD. Other standards like All of Me, I Want to Be Happy, You Don't Know What Love Is are interspersed with titles including the Lennon/McCartney classic Can't Buy Me Love, Buddy Johnson's Since I Fell For You, Twisted, (Gray/Ross) and title track, Cole Porter's Love For Sale. The band gets a chance to stretch out and solo as well as providing accurate and sensitive backing throughout the CD.
Jacki has a clean, clear vocal technique and a versatility allowing her to cover a wide range of styles as well as having the musical ability to do her own arrangements.
Shaun Duncan's composition, Unlucky For Some and a debut composition from Jacki I Watch You Sleep, a moving ballad, rounds off a well balanced choice of material.
The CD launch at Bar on Gouger last month (Nov 2002) attracted a packed house.
This well packaged CD was recorded at Adelaide University PATU by Silver Moon and at the Cheese Factory by Kim Webster. Local artist, Lyn Robins did the cover artwork, Kasia Pawelski-Leach the photography and Heather McDonald, the cover design.

Reviewer: Don Brow for Jazz Scene, Jan 2003.

Jacki Cooper & Friends - Jacki Cooper Jazz Quartet

Independent Release JC001

Vocalist Jacki Cooper has spent many years on her musical journey, which has gradually led her to record a collection of her all-time favourite jazz standards, with a group of excellent Adelaide musicians. "Jazz Quartet" was recorded earlier this year on a particularly hot afternoon and subsequently mixed by Kim Webster. Jacki Cooper Quartet, with Jacki on vocals, David Fitzgerald, piano, Shaun Duncan, bass and Craig Lauritsen, drums, approach each standard with a uniform sense of familiarity which adds to the overall professionalism of the performance captured on this independent CD. The CD opens with a funky "in-the-goove" version of Gershwin's "Summertime". This is followed by the two feel of Jeroeme Kern's "I'm Old Fashioned" which moves into four with a tasteful piano solo from David. "Fever", long associated with the haunting version by Peggy Lee, features bass and percussion with some sparse piano accompaniement. Nat "King" Cole's "Straighten Up And Fly Right" moves from an initial two-feel to a swinging four featuring a tight, "two-fisted" piano solo. The medium tempoed lope of "Makin' Whoopee" provides an unusually bluesly feel, while "Well All Right" is performed as an uptempo number which features trading from piano and drums. The "Funk Medley" consisting of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", "I Can't Stand The Rain" and "I Feel The Earth Move" adds a "soul" dimension to this essentially jazz collection. The lovely ballad by Rodgers & Hart, "My Romance" features Jacki with only piano acompaniement and brings this all too short CD to a fitting conclusion. With out doubt, this CD is a showcase of some of the fine jazz talent that Adelaide currently boasts.

Reviewed by Greg Fisher for "Jazz Views" November 2000.